Slide fastener stringer

ABSTRACT

A slide fastener stringer having a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one of the longitudinal edges of a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabirc. At least one element connector adapted to carry the fastener elements at preassigned spacings is received in one of the interwale grooves at least one surface of the stringer tape along the longitudinal edge portion thereof and is buried therein lower than the outer surfaces of the adjacent wales by way of protection against wear or damage.

United States Patent Takamatsu Aug. 26, 1975 [54] SLIDE FASTENER STRINGER FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1 lnvcmori Takamatsu, U01", Japan 1,362,870 7/1963 France 24/2051 R 511,372 10/1930 Gcrmany..... 24/205,13 R [73] Ahsgnfie' Yosh'da Kogy Kabush'k' 552,343 5/1932 Germany 24/20513 R Tokyo, Japan [221 Filed: Oct. 1 1974 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam [2]] Appl NO: 515,052 Assistant Examinerl (enneth J. Dorner Attorney, Agent, or F1rmBucknam and Archer [30] Foreign Application Priority Data' I 57] ABSTRACT Japan 48420598 A slide fastener stringer having a series of discrete fas- 521 US. (:1. .1 24/205.l6 R; 24/20513 R term elefnenls arranged f one of the l l [51 1 Int Cl 2 A44B 19/40 edges of a strlnger tape made of a warp-knitted fab1rc.

Atlt l t tdtdt th [58] FIeld of Search 24/205.16 R, 205.13 R, ss; izggsg ii ii z i l g g 24/2051 20513 20516 C in one of the interwale grooves at least one surface of the stringer tape along the longitudinal edge portion [56] References cued thereof and is buried therein lower than the outer sur- UNITED'STATES PATENTS faces of the adjacent wales by way of protection 2,264,580 [2/1941 Morin 24/2()5.l6 R against wear or damage, 3,068,541 12/1962 Morin 24/2()5.l6 R 3,849,842 11/1974 Yoshida 24/2051 c 5 Clams. 7 Drawing Flgures PATENTEDA 3,900,929

SiiCZT 1 OF 2 FIGS F|G.6

SLIDE FASTENER STRINGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to slide fasteners and more specifically to a stringer for slide fasteners including a series of discrete fastener elements attached to a warp-knitted fabric tape. Even more specifically, the invention is directed to the improved arrangement of what is herein termed an element connector in the slide fastener stringer of the type just mentioned.

An element connector in the form of, for example, a fabric cord or plastic monofilament is customarily employed in combination with discrete fastener elements, in order to maintain the latter at correct longitudinal spacings on a stringer tape. Such element connector is usually arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of the stringer tape so as to extend across the legs of the fastener elements, and those portions of the element connector lying between the adjacent fastener element legs are completely exposed on the stringer tape. It will be apparent that the exposed element conector portions are highly susceptible to damage or wear from repeated contact with other objects in the use of the slide fastener incorporating a pair of such stringers. The damaged or worn element connector can seriously impair the positional stability of the fastener elements, and the slide fastener may eventually become incapable of functioning properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved stringer for slide fasteners wherein one or more element connectors adapted to carry a series of discrete fastener elements at preassigned pitch spacings are so arranged as to avoid contact with other objects in the use of the slide fastener composed of a pair of such stringers, thereby assuring the smooth and effective functioning of the slide fastener over extended periods of time.

In order to accomplish this object and the other ancillary ones hereinafter set forth, this invention provides a slide fastener stringer in which there is employed a tape made of a warp-knitted fabric, with transversely alternating wales and inter-Wale grooves formed on at least one surface thereof. A series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of this stringer tape are of the type each comprising a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly therefrom, and at least one leg of each fastener element has an inwardly directed midpoint projection or a rear end projection which is received in the respective interwale grooves on one surface of the stringer tape along the longitudinal edge portion thereof. At least one element connector adapted to maintain the fastener elements at preassigned pitch spacings is also received in either of the interwale grooves in which the inwardly directed projections of the legs of each fastener element are received. The element connector, moreover, is buried in the interwale groove lower than the outer surfaces of the wales. By thus guarding the element connector with the rigid wales characteristic of the warp-knitted fabric, the positional stability of the fastener elements can be faithfully maintained over extended periods of use of the complete slide fastener.

The features which are believed to be novel and characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as the further objects and advantages thereof, will become more apparent and understandable as the description proceeds hereinbelow, with reference taken to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example only, several preferred embodiments of the invention and in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a slide fastener stringer constructed in accordance with the novel concepts of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line IIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing another preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line IVIV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 2 or 4 but showing still another preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is also a similar sectional view but showing a further preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is also a similar sectional view in which the concepts of the invention are applied to a slide fastener stringer having one-legged fastener elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the slide fastener stringer illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by way of one of the specific adaptations of the invention, there is shown at 10 a stringer tape of a warpknitted fabric having Wales 11 on both surfaces of the stringer tape along one longitudinal edge portion 14 thereof, which surfaces are adapted to mount thereon a series of uniformly spaced fastener elements 13 of discrete type. These wales alternate with interwale grooves 12 in the transverse direction of the stringer tape 10. The fastener elements 13 are affixed to the longitudinal edge portion 14 of the stringer tape 10 via a pair of element connectors 15 arranged longitudinally thereof. Each element connector 15 is in the form of a fillet of suitably flexible material such as, typically, plastics.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the fastener elements 13 are of the type each comprising a coupling head 16 at its front end and a pair of parallel spaced legs 17 and 18 extending rearwardly from the coupling head, with the legs 17 and 18 arranged in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the stringer tape. A pair of inwardly directed projections 19 are formed correspondingly at the rear ends of the respective legs 17 and 18 of each fastener element 13. Another pair of inwardly directed projections 20 are formed correspondingly approximately at the midpoints of the respective legs of each fastener element.

It will be observed from FIG. 2 that the rear end projections 19 are of greater extent than the midpoint projections 20. These rear end projections and midpoint proj ections of each fastener element are received in the respective corresponding interwale grooves 12 on both surfaces of the stringer tape 10 along the longitudinal edge portion 14 thereof. The aforementioned filletshaped element connector 15, arranged longitudinally of the stringer tape to carry the fastener elements 13 at preassigned pitch spacings, are received in the same interwale grooves 12 as the midpoint projections 20. It should be noted that these element connectors are buried in the respective interwale grooves lower than the outer surfaces of the wales l1 and are retained therein by the midpoint projections of the respective fastener elements. The fillet-shaped element connectors are thus protected against damage or ready wear from contact with other objects in the use of the slide fastener incorporating a pair of such stringers.

Generally, the fastener elements for use in the stringer of this invention can be made of any suitable material by any suitable method. Where plastics is employed, the fastener elements may be formed by injection molding or by extrusion. The fastener elements made of thermoplastic material may also be anchored onto the stringer tape by high frequency or ultrasonic welding.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the preceding embodiment of the invention, in which there is employed a single fillet-shaped element connector 15 to carry the fastener elements 13 at preassigned spacings. As will be seen from the drawings, the single element connector 15 is substantially woven into the stringer tape 10 in a staggered fashion so as to alternately interconnect every two adjacent legs 17 (18) or each pitch of the fastener elements on either surface of the stringer tape. Other details of construction substantially follow suit after those set forth in connection with the preceding embodiment of the invention. It will be noted that this element connector 15 is also buried in the interwale grooves 12 of the stringer tape lower than the outer surfaces of the wales 11.

In a further adaptation of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, the rear end projections 19 and midpoint projections of each fastener element 13 are of equal extent and are received in the respective corresponding interwale grooves 12 on both surfaces of the stringer tape 10 along the longitudinal edge portion 14 thereof. Pairs of element connectors 15a each in the form of a fabric cord or a plastics monofilament (hereinafter generally referred to as the cord-shaped element connectors) extend transversely through, and are formed substantially integral with, the respective rear end projections 19 and midpoint projections 20 of the fastener elements. These four cord-shaped element connectors 150 are likewise buried in the respective interwale grooves 12 on both surfaces of the stringer tape 10 lower than the outer surfaces of the wales 11.

FIG. 6 illustrates still another adaptation of the invention which utilizes a stringer tape 10 having transversely alternating wales 11 and interwale grooves 12 only on one surface thereof. Each fastener element 130 has the inwardly directed rear end projection 19 and midpoint projection 20 formed only on its leg 17, which projections are received in the respective interwale grooves 12 on one surface of the stringer tape 10 along the longitudinal edge portion 14 thereof. A single cordshaped element connector 15a extends transversely through and are formed substantially integral with the rear end projections 19 0f the fastener elements 13a. The cord-shaped element connector 15a is buried in the same interwale groove as the rear end projections 19 lower than the outer surfaces of the wales 1 1. Unlike the preceding embodiments of the invention, the fastener elements 13a are anchored onto the longitudinal edge portion 14 of the stringer tape 10 by means of stitching 21 extending over depressions 22 formed in the outer surfaces of the legs 17 and 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 by way of example, the concepts of this invention are applicable to a stringer hav ing one-legged fastener elements 13b. The single leg 17 of each fastener element 13b has the rear end projection 19 and midpoint projection 20 that are received in the respective interwale grooves 12 on one surface of the stringer tape 10. The cord-shaped element connector 15a, extending transversely through and formed substantially integral with the respective projections 19 and 20 of the fastener elements, are buried in the respective interwale grooves lower than the outer surfaces of the wales 11.

Having thus described the several novel and useful features of the slide fastener stringer according to the invention, it is believed that the objects for which it was designed have been fully accomplished. However, while only a few of the various possible adaptations of the invention have been shown and described herein, certain additional modifications may well occur to those skilled in the art within the broad teaching hereof. All such modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves at least on one surface thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, at least one leg of each fastener element having an inwardly directed projection which is received in the respective interwale grooves on one surface of said stringer tape, and at least one element connector adapted to carry said fastener elements at predetermined spacings, said element connector extending along one of said interwale grooves and being buried therein lower than the outer surfaces of said wales.

2. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves on both surfaces thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, said legs of each fastener element having a pair of inwardly directed projections and a pair of fillet-shaped element connectors adapted to carry said fastener elements at predetermined spacings, said filletshaped element connectors being received in the same interwale grooves as said projections and being buried therein lower than the outer surfaces of said wales.

3. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves on both surfaces thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, said legs of each fastener element having a pair of inwardly directed projections which are received in the respective interwale grooves on both surfaces of said stringer tape, and a fillet-shaped element connector substantially woven into said stringer tape in a staggered fashion along those interwale grooves in which said projections are received, so as to alternately interconnect every two adjacent legs of said fastener elements at predetermined spacings on either surface of said stringer tape, said fillet-shaped element connector being buried in said interwale grooves lower than the outer surfaces of said wales.

4. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves on both surfaces thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, said legs of each fastener element having a pair of inwardly directed projections which are received in the respective interwale grooves on both surfaces of said stringer tape, and a pair of cord-shaped element connectors adapted to carry said fastener elements at predetermined spacings, said pair of cordshaped element connectors extending transversely through the respective projections of said fastener elements and being received in the same interwale grooves as said projections, said pair of cord-shaped element connectors being buried in the respective interwale grooves lower than the outer surfaces of said wales.

5. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves on one surface thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape by stitching and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, one of said legs of each fastener element having an inwardly directed projection which is received in the respective interwale grooves on one surface of said stringer tape, and a cord-shaped element connector extending transversely through a rear end projection of said fastener elements to carry the same at predetermined spacings, said cordshaped element connector being buried in the same interwale groove as said projections and being held therein lower than the outer surfaces of said wales. 

1. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves at least on one surface thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, at least one leg of each fastener element having an inwardly directed projection which is received in the respective interwale grooves on one surface of said stringer tape, and at least one element connector adapted to carry said fastener elements at predetermined spacings, said element connector extending along one of said interwale grooves and being buried therein lower than the outer surfaces of said wales.
 2. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves on both surfaces thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, said legs of each fastener element having a pair of inwardly directed projections and a pair of fillet-shaped element connectors adapted to carry said fastener elements at predetermined spacings, said fillet-shaped element connectors being received in the same interwale grooves as said projections and being buried therein lower than the outer surfaces of said wales.
 3. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves on both surfaces thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, said legs of each fastener element having a pair of inwardly directed projections which are received in the respective interwale grooves on both surfaces of said stringer tape, and a fillet-shaped element connector substantially woven into said stringer tape in a staggered fashion along those interwale grooves in which said projections are received, so as to alternately interconnect every two adjacent legs of said fastener elements at predetermined spacings on either surface of said stringer tape, said fillet-shaped element connector being buried in said interwale grooves lower than the outer surfaces of said wales.
 4. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves on both surfaces thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, said legs of each fastener element having a pair of inwardly directed projections which are received in the respective interwale grooves on both surfaces of said stringer tape, and a pair of cord-shaped element connectors adapted to carry said fastener elements at predetermined spacings, said pair of cord-shaped element connectors extending transversely through the respective projections of said fastener elements and being received in the same interwale grooves as said projections, said pAir of cord-shaped element connectors being buried in the respective interwale grooves lower than the outer surfaces of said wales.
 5. A slide fastener stringer comprising, in combination, a stringer tape made of a warp-knitted fabric and having transversely alternating wales and interwale grooves on one surface thereof, a series of discrete fastener elements arranged along one longitudinal edge portion of said stringer tape by stitching and each having a coupling head and a pair of legs extending rearwardly from said coupling head, one of said legs of each fastener element having an inwardly directed projection which is received in the respective interwale grooves on one surface of said stringer tape, and a cord-shaped element connector extending transversely through a rear end projection of said fastener elements to carry the same at predetermined spacings, said cord-shaped element connector being buried in the same interwale groove as said projections and being held therein lower than the outer surfaces of said wales. 